Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)

I felt there was way too much sound in the film, too much assiduous stuffing of Brazilian beats into every nook and cranny. Nice to hear some of that music but please. The mix was weird, the music too loud with the voices, and when the music was by itself it was cranked up ridiculously high.

Really disliked the practice of having the audience sit through the foreign language dialog then here a translator sitting there deliver a translation, usually off camera.

I couldn't' help thinking about how the figure of 2 billion stolen compares with the 3 trillion spent on Iraq, most of it going into private hands with more mercenaries on the ground in Iraq than US troops. In some respects things are so much worse here.

"Manda Bala" is everything you could want in a documentary, or in any film, for that matter! Directed in a style akin to the finer films of Errol Morris, "Manda Bala" is beautifully shot, brilliantly edited, and has a tremendous musical score. Shot in Brazil over several years, this documentary smartly examines the nature of corruption and class division in a truly engaging & entertaining way; the film is gripping from beginning to end, and has an immediacy that has world-wide relevance and resonance. The story is tightly woven, but the film still breathes in an almost perfect way, with just the right amount of tension & release. I am INCREDIBLY impressed by the amazing, dare I say artistic work that first-time director Jason Kohn has toiled to put together. Everyone-and-their-brothers-in-law-too should go see "Manda Bala", as soon as it's given wide-release, post-Sundance!

This is one of the finest documentaries I have ever seen.

It takes on a very difficult subject, violence and corruption in Brazil, and portrays its impact on the population through the lives of a dozen or so primary characters. The film interviews the ruthless kidnapper-murderer, exposes and interviews the corrupt politician, shows a kidnapping victim getting his ear cut off; yet it conveys this potentially depressing subject matter with stunning visual effects and an uplifting Brazilian music score that captures the great spirit of Brazil's people.

The film has footage of children playing in the slums of Sao Paolo, but they aren't playing soccer. They are instead recreating the growing crime of kidnapping and cutting off the victims body parts. An actual kidnapper tells the camera he doesn't think much about the kidnappings and murders he commits. He then explains as a proud father that he has nine children and his wife is about to have their tenth. He concludes saying, "maybe one of them will grow up to fix this country".

The film opens by saying it cannot be shown in Brazil. I hope this does not prove to be the case and that it can be shown not only in Brazil but throughout Latin America and around the globe. It should be mandatory viewing for everyone everywhere concerned with the escalating vicious cycle of poverty, neglect, violence, and corruption that plagues mankind.

Poor and superficial film, using disturbing images, playing with the American believe that Violence and Corruption only happen in other countries. This is a bad copy of other Brazilian movies, this people could be making Art with more social engagement , sensibility and respect for other cultures.

The worst part of the movie is when Kids are showed acting/playing as kidnappers. The director admitted that He asked the Kids to do the theater, but presents it as if it was reality, making the public believe that this is how kids play in the streets of Brazil. This is unetical, not a documentary, shouldn't be a reference.

I believe that it's time for the young Americans to start looking into solving their own problems at home. And not only look for sensationalism , violence and misery but, beauty and successful experiences in other cultures, not only they problems, feeding prejudices and fear.

It's time to exchange ideas , using art as communication, a Global believe of trust and enlightenment. Not only fear of the different, of the foreigner, the neighbor...

This movie is really excellent! I wish a Brazilian director had the guts to do it!

I read some stupid reviews here, like "what's with the frogs?" or complaining about the use of strong images, that the subjects should be 2 different movies, "there was no a-ha moment"... come on... seriously??

This movie is not about "a-ha moments" like stupid fiction movies. This is not Sunday afternoon entertainment. This is about what people have to deal daily. There are no bad guys or good guys. It's not that clear. There are good guys depending on how much you can afford...

Corruption, criminality and violence are all consequences. They are part of a never-ending cycle that began long ago.

Congratulations for the director, producer and crew.